26 October 2016

As if college itself wasn’t stressful enough,
nothing can weigh on the mind like crushing loan debt. Having a job to
alleviate some of that financial pressure would be nice, but when you’re an architecture
student studying 30 hours a day, where will you find the time for a regular
job?

Luckily, there are plenty of ways for you to
earn some supplemental income while you’re contributing the majority of your
time to your studies.

Selling
Unused Clothes

This plan sounds quite tedious, and it can be
if not executed properly. Sorting through your clothes is exceedingly mundane,
even when it’s just to put them away during the laundry process.

And remember, you have to make time to study,
so you can’t waste any of it separating old clothes from the rest. You need an
efficient way to market the clothes you know you can get rid of, and that
people would want to buy.

Utilizing social media is an effective way to
market your clothing, as well as set up and close sales. All it takes is a
little legwork. Take a picture or two of the article of clothing and post that
picture to a group in Facebook, direct message it to people you think would be
interested in it, or post it on Instagram using the #ShopMyCloset hashtag.

And if you don’t have the time to sit down one
afternoon and sort through all of your clothes, kill two birds with one stone. When
you’re doing your laundry (your clothes have to be cleaned eventually), pay
attention to what clothes are left sitting dormant in your closet and drawers.

More often than not, these are clothes that
don’t fit you anymore, or that you’ve simply forgotten about. No matter the
reason, they would be much more useful in the hands (or on the body) of a
person who would actually wear them.

Volunteering
for Scientific Studies

This is the method that is most likely to net
you the highest amount of money in the shortest amount of time. Research
institutions all over the country are constantly looking for test subjects to take
part in experiments for new drugs, studying diseases and even sleep studies.

You can participate in experiments that allow
doctors and medical students to understand how our bodies fight diseases, and
others that allow them to observe sleep patterns. No matter the experiment,
most researchers are more than willing to fork out some extra cash to keep them
from having to become the experiment subject.

If you don’t really mind being a lab rat, go
ahead and take the money!

Selling
Your Car

Before you say it, no, this isn’t a suggestion
that you sell whatever car you have right now. Obviously, if you need a car in
order to function, you should have a car.

But you don’t have to have a nice car. An easy
way to raise money that could be dedicated to paying for school is to sell a
classic or vintage automobile.

College students will be very willing to pay
you to help them pass a test, write a long essay or even improve their overall
grade in a crucial class.

Your hours can be whatever you want them to
be, and there are no contracts or limitations to how much your workload can be
from month to month.

The best part is that the better you are at
tutoring, the more referrals you’ll get, thus increasing your earning
potential. You’re basically getting paid to study, and help others get better
at studying. You never know, you might even help your own grades at the same
time!

19 November 2014

For
most people, when you say “social worker” you think of someone working with
children and families — your first thought might even be an incorrect image of
an overworked caseworker removing children from their homes and placing them in
foster care.

However, there
is a much wider range of opportunity for social workers outside
of the realm of children and families. In fact, social workers are
committed to helping all people in need. They help people at all ages and
stages of life access the services and tools they need to thrive and live
healthy lives. Yet there is one population in dire need of help, and a shortage
of qualified workers could mean that many people do not gain access to the
services that they need.

As the
population ages, seniors have a greater need than ever for help managing the
social, financial, and health issues that come with old age. Whether it’s
someone facing a chronic disease who needs daily medical care, or someone
facing the isolation that can come from the loss of family and friends over
time, the range of services required by older adults is vast, and there’s a
great need for social workers trained in gerontology and aging issues. Add in
trends such as the increase in elder abuse and the desire of many people to
“age in place” rather than in assisted living or nursing care facilities, and
the need for qualified social workers becomes even more apparent.

So how do you
get involved in geriatric social work? The first step is understanding what social
workers do.

Geriatric Social Work Overview

Geriatric or
gerontological social workers are focused on meeting the physical and social
needs of older adults. They can be found in a wide variety of settings, such as
hospitals, state agencies, service and referral agencies (i.e., agencies on
aging), rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and assisted living facilities,
and private practice.

Depending on the
agency and the specialty of the social worker, some of the services that one
might provide include:

·Support and advocacy in matters of
health, money, and social lives. For example, social workers are trained to
identify signs of elder abuse and take action when necessary.

Social workers
often work closely with other professionals, including health care providers,
attorneys, and financial advisors, as well as families, to ensure that older
adults are well-cared for and have everything they need.

Becoming
a Geriatric Social Worker

At minimum, to
begin a career in geriatric social work you need to earn at least a bachelor’s
degree, in a field such as social work, psychology, or gerontology. In some
cases, nurses have moved into social work roles as well. However, every state
requires social workers to be licensed, and that means earning
a master’s in human services or social work and passing the licensing exam.
In addition, to be eligible to take the social work examination, you generally
need to complete a minimum number of supervised practicum hours; in most
states, the minimum is 3,000 hours, but the specifics vary.

In any case, you
will be expected to have specialized knowledge of the issues that affect older
adults, including mental and physical health issues. You will generally
complete coursework not only related to working with the elderly themselves,
but also in social policies and current issues relating to older people,
ethics, and gerontological research.

Career Opportunities

The number of
people age 65 or older is expected to reach 72 million by the year 2030,
comprising 20 percent of the U.S. population. This means that going forward,
there will be a wide array of opportunities for gerontological social workers.
In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistic predicts demand to increase by 19
percent, which is faster than average.

Salaries vary
for jobs in this field. The BLS reports a median annual salary of about
$44,000, with the highest earners topping out at around $57,000 per year.
Earning potential varies according to the employer, region, and level of
experience, with those working in private practice or for private agencies
earning the most.

Geriatric social
work is a rewarding and growing field. If you have the urge to help, but aren’t
sure you want to work with children, you have other options — and senior
citizens need your help.

17 November 2014

Working
for the government has several advantages over private sector employment. From
opportunities for growth, advancement, and job security, to competitive salary
and benefits, working in the public sector is an ideal way to build a
satisfying career while also making a difference in the lives of others. And
considering that more than 80 percent of all government jobs are located
outside of Washington, D.C., there’s a reasonably good chance that you can find
a government job wherever

you happen to live.

However, just
because there are plenty of government jobs, that doesn’t mean that they are
easy to get. Landing a position in the public sector is slightly more
complicated than landing one in the private sector, as the requirements tend to
be a be more stringent, and there is a bit more red tape to cut through. You
can improve your chances, though, and help streamline the process by taking
certain steps ahead of time.

1. Keep a Spotless Reputation

Clearly, most
people don’t deliberately cultivate a poor reputation. However, when you want
to work for the government, how you conduct yourself before you’re hired can
make a significant difference in whether you’re hired or not. Some positions
require extensive background checks, and unfortunately, your wild “party days”
during college could come back to haunt you. That doesn’t mean you need to be a
stick in the mud, but as you make decisions, consider how the fallout during a
background check. If you think you might be embarrassed or that it could hurt
your chances, don’t do it.

2. Earn Your Degree

Most well-paying
government positions require applicants to hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
In most cases, though, a master’s degree will move you higher up the list.
Government leaders — city managers, agency directors, and the like — need the
skills in decision-making, communication, leadership, and problem-solving
provided by degrees
like a Master of Public Administration. With such a degree, you stand a
better chance of landing your perfect governmental position.

3. Develop an Appropriate Resume

It might sound
bureaucratic, but when you apply for a government job, your standard
chronologically formatted resume isn’t going to get you interviews, especially
when you are applying for federal jobs. Applicants generally have to include
additional information on their resumes, particularly if you have ever held a
position within the government before. In addition, this is one area in which
creativity doesn’t really count, at least when it comes to your resume. Your
best bet is to visit a site like USAjobs.gov,
the central hiring database for government jobs, and use the tools there to
format your resume properly.

4.
Become an Intern

It might seem
unfair, but many government agencies and departments rely heavily on their
internship programs to find new employees, hiring primarily from the pool of
successful interns rather than seeking outside applicants. This means that you
may never have the chance to even apply for certain positions, or at the very
least, face fierce competition from those who have direct experience. This is
just one reason that you should seek internship opportunities in the public
sector. Not only do you gain a competitive advantage when it comes to
employment, you also gain insights into the inner

workings of a department or
agency that you may not otherwise have. In addition, you can begin building
your network, which is a vital component to success in any field.

5. Develop In-Demand Skills

It’s not
difficult to determine what the federal government’s priorities are. Just pay
attention to the news and follow the development of government programs and
initiatives. For example, current government priorities fall within the realm of
health care, education, cybersecurity, and the Middle East. Therefore,
applicants with experience within those areas have a better chance of standing
out in a crowded talent pool. Consider studying a second language, particularly
one in high demand, such as Arabic or Farsi, and building your expertise in a
specific area. Look for skills that will allow you to stand out and help you do
your job better.

Of course, even
if you do all of these things, landing that plum assignment can still be
challenging. Above all, you need to be persistent and patient. The hiring
process can be slow, particularly with federal jobs, and it might be three
months or more before you hear back on an application. However, when you have
the right skills and a commitment to public service, you shouldn’t have any
trouble landing a government job.

14 November 2014

After
several years of attending classes, writing papers, and taking tests, you might
think that your work is done and you can waltz out of college with a degree.
That may be true in some cases, but many programs have one more requirement for
students who want to earn their degrees: A final project.

Every program
and school has their own specific parameters, but the final project usually
falls into one of three categories: A thesis, a capstone, or a dissertation.
Which type of project you’ll be required to complete varies depending on your college
program and what type of degree you’re seeking. However, understanding the
difference between them will help you to plan ahead to ensure that your final
project is the best it can possibly be.

1. Thesis

In the past, the
thesis paper was the most common type of project completed by both
undergraduate and graduate students as a final requirement for graduation. At
the undergraduate level, these intensive research papers were often offered as
either an option for students who wanted to get a head start on graduate-level research
or a requirement for graduating with honors in their major.

In the simplest
terms, a thesis paper is an academic research paper built around a strong
thesis statement. Depending on the subject, the thesis either is a new
interpretation of existing research on the subject, or based on original
research conducted by the student combined with existing knowledge in the
field. For example, an undergraduate media studies student may choose to
research the portrayal of a certain demographic on television, and conduct a
content analysis of several programs to compare the current state of television
to existing conclusions.

The purpose of a
thesis paper is to provide an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge
they have gained in their college coursework while simultaneously expanding
their knowledge via research. It’s not a “typical” research paper; it’s much
longer, for starters, with specific formatting
requirements. In addition, students are generally required to present and
defend their research to a thesis committee, who may ask for revisions before
accepting and grading the project.

2. Capstone

A capstone
project shares many characteristics with thesis papers, in that it’s a
large-scale project in which a student can demonstrate his or her knowledge and
apply what’s been learned in class. However, capstone projects are more than
just a paper, although they usually include a written component.

In most programs,
the capstone project requires students, working either individually or in a
group, to complete a “real-world” project involving an actual product, service,
or client. For example, a capstone project may involve developing new software
or communication tools to improve client processes. In addition to developing
and implementing a solution, capstone projects usually involve developing a
thesis statement, conducting research, and reporting on the results of the
project in a written form as well as a presentation.

3.
Dissertation

While thesis and
capstone projects are usually reserved for undergraduate and graduate levels,
doctoral candidates often must complete a dissertation in order to earn their
degrees. A dissertation is the most rigorous type of academic research. While a
thesis or capstone relies on the application of existing research, a
dissertation requires highly focused and original research and application. For
example, a student seeking a doctoral
degree in educational leadership might conduct an action-based study,
examining an existing practice to identify potential areas for change, and then
testing a proposed solution to those issues. However, the most important point
is that rather than reinterpreting or applying existing research and theories,
a dissertation is a new addition to the canon of research on the topic.

Because
dissertations are expected to represent the pinnacle of academic excellence, they
generally take several years to complete (as opposed to the one to three
semesters needed for a capstone or thesis) and there is a high level of
guidance at every step. In most cases, dissertations are reviewed and approved
by committees, who are involved with the projects at every point. However, in
addition to earning a doctoral degree because of the project, most students are
able to publish their research, adding an additional credential to their CV.

Completing a
final project is an important part of concluding any type of academic program.
Look into your program’s requirements well in advance, so you’re prepared with
a proposed topic and plan when it comes time to complete your research project.
You might even find that your final project to be among the highlights of your
academic career.

12 November 2014

Most people who
pursue a master’s in special education do so with the intent of becoming a
special education teacher. After all, most states require such educators to
have completed, at minimum, a special education training program if a master’s
degree isn’t required.

However, earning
such a degree presents a number of opportunities
outside the classroom as well. Law enforcement, health care, social
services, and the media are all in need of experienced professionals with a
background in special education.

Not convinced? Check out some of the
doors that your special education credential can open up.

Social
Services Providers

When children
are hospitalized due to illness or injury, their medical team relies upon
social services coordinators to help the patient and his or her family access
necessary programs and services, and to

help them provide the best possible
care to their young patients. With your degree in special education, you can
help determine patient eligibility for extra services, advocate for patients’
educational needs, and help coordinate treatment plans. A special education
program also helps prepare you for certification as a Child Life Specialist, a
health care professional who helps children and families as they deal with
illness, injury, disability, and hospitalization.

Depending on the
agency or organization, a social services provider earns an average of around
$40,000 per year, with those who earn the Certified Child Life Specialist
credential among the top earners overall.

Writer
and Tester

In order for
children to receive special education services, in most cases they must undergo
a series of diagnostic tests designed to pinpoint the issue and identify appropriate
measures. The tests are usually administered by trained professionals with a
background in special education who can effectively interpret the results and
make appropriate recommendations.

Not only do
special education professionals deliver exams, they also help create them.
Using their in-depth knowledge and experience, they devise exams that are both
effective and developmentally appropriate. Special education experts are also
in demand as writers of textbooks, and training and informational materials. In
most cases, these roles also require some degree of classroom experience in
addition to a degree, but the earning potential is competitive. A full time
writer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, earns about $50,000 per
year. However, many special education teachers provide writing, editing, and
testing services on a freelance basis, earning a steady income in addition to
their full time jobs.

Rehabilitation

For people with
physical, emotional, and learning disabilities, a rehabilitation counselor can
mean the difference between being able to care for themselves and relying on
others for everything. If you hold a special education degree, you may be able
to work as a rehab counselor, helping children and teens with disabilities
develop strategies for managing everyday life or participate in certain
activities.

You might find
these positions in schools, where you would work with a single student or a
small group in a classroom, at a rehabilitation center, or in private practice.
Private practice usually requires that you obtain a license, which may require
additional education and training. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is
expected to grow by 20 percent within the next decade, but salaries are still
on the lower end of the spectrum, averaging in the low to mid $30s. Counselors
in private practice tend to earn substantially more money each year.

Law
Enforcement

It might seem
strange that you can use your special education degree in the law enforcement
field, but it’s true. Correctional facilities often hire people with a
background in special education to teach or provide rehabilitation services to
inmates. Studies
show that more than a third of all inmates in juvenile correctional
facilities received special education services at some point prior to
incarceration, and the law requires that children with disabilities continue to
receive those services while they are in detention.

This is an
extremely challenging, yet rewarding specialization, with above average earning
potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salaries for
a corrections officer is about $48,000 per year, with the region, level of
security, and level of education all factors in actual salaries.

Earning a
special education master’s degree does not mean that you are limited to working
in schools. From hospitals to jails to your own private practice, a special
education degree is a versatile credential that offers a wealth of career
opportunities.